EK9.org Nurburgring trip?????
- Thread starter JIMBOB-EK9
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bazza
Free..
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Ok, here is my long reply that I was promising..
What will I need?
EHIC - European Health Insurance Cover
V5
Breakdown Cover
European Cover for your car
Valid Tax
Valid MOT
How do I ge there?
Here are the popular Ferry routes:
Dover - Calais
Dover - Boulogne
Hull - Rotterdam
There is also a Newcastle to Rotterdam service I believe. Ideal for Scottish members.
Anyone wanting to fly in, Cologne (Koln) and Frunkfurt airports are both within easy driving distance.
The Ring is situation in the Effel mountain region of Germany. Around 4.5 hours from Calais/Boulogne and around 2.5 hours from Rotterdam.
Hotels
Motorsport Hotel - 45 Euro per person, per night - double room 65 Euro
Edgar's Place - 27 Euro per person, per night including breakfast and parking
I would never recommend just turning up and trying to find a place, prices will go up with demand! Bank Holiday weekends is always more expensive. Mid-week in August in 2007 I think I paid 40 Euro a night with breakfast at the Motorsport and June this year I paid 27 Euro a night with breakfast at Edgar's place.
Food
Nurburg and Adenau are home to several restaurants. Its cheap as chips too! How does a big Pizza and drinks for under a tenner sound?
I know the good places (and im sure other regular Ring'ers do too) and the bad so don't worry about eating Sausage every night.
Ring etiquette
Remember that its an unristricted German toll road, so German road rules apply. Overtake on the left only and by consent only. Drivers will let you past by indicating over to the right and slowing down. However, you will get the odd ego muppet with a 400bhp barge that will just squirt away down the straights and leave your torqueless little Civic behind - and again, you'll catch him in a corner and again, be annoyed he won't get out of your way! This is not uncommon, back off for 30 seconds and continue you're lap.
If you are first on the scene of any incident/accident you MUST stop and offer assistance. Get the ring HQ hut on your mobile phone.
I recommend getting a Halfords European driving kit and some high-vis vests. You can slow the traffic down by waving the yellow vests at the drivers of oncoming traffic to warn them that there has been an accident ahead.
There are well over 100 corners on the ring and some of them are BLIND! Always be careful when exiting your vehicle and remember, a car at 100mph cannot stop in 10 yards, NEVER wonder onto the track. Good drivers (most of them not British) slow down for accidents, apply hazards etc. Remain off the track and continue to walk away from the accident enough to slow the cars down in time. No need to walk 2km from the accident. Common sense privails.
Anyone overtaking on the wrong side will get banned for the day (if caught) and a right ticking off (anyone who knows the Ring will know how legendary the traffic guys are - makes Anne Widdicombe look like a Telly Tubby) from the Ring staff.
How much is a lap?
Last time I was there (June/July) it was 21 Euro a ticket (divide by 1.22 for GBP price). 4, 8, 16 and 24 lap tickets are available. A yearly pass is also available for a price. The more laps you buy in one hit, the cheaper the ticket. Each lap ticket is valid for that year. I still have a few laps left on my ticket from July
If I crash, what happens?
If you do have an "off" you'll be expected to pay for:
- the barrier (300 Euro a metre IIRC)
- recovery from the track - expensive!
- loss of earnings if the track has to close
- grass seed and cleaning up fees if you drag crap over the track
- cleaning up fees if you dump oil or coolant
The last thing you want lying in a hospital bed is a 10,000 Euro bill for the above. Remember that when driving!
I got passed by a 1989 Golf shitbox, how can this be?
Forget BHP figures, forget flash badges, forget about the 1000 Gran Turismo laps you've done, forget about you're mate Dave in the passenger seat G'ing you on.
All of this is irrelevant. Nothing can replace the combination of driver skill and experience of the Ring. There is always going to be someone miles faster in a lower powered car. They know the track, they know their car - they can carry far more speed than an unexperienced Ring driver.
Go out with an open mind and with nothing to prove and you'll have miles more fun than trying to be the fastest.
Can I record or time my lap?
Recording is strictly forbidden on the Ring without a media pass approved by the Ring HQ. If you get caught filming you'll get banned for the day (in some cases, for 2 or 3 days). The Ring are even looking on Youtube now and some drivers have had bans for previous laps recorded!
Timing can end in tears also, with so much traffic and variables on the ring, drivers cannot help but push on to make up for lost time behind a slow twat or a legal slow down zone for an accident. My advice is to take it steady and forget about times until you can link every corner together in your sleep, backwards
Are there any speed limits on the Ring?
Yes - 2 fixed speed limits. The first is entering Adenau Bridge (official name Breidshied) - a limit is shown there as bikes/cars can join the ring at this point (you loose a full lap from your ticket though!) - great for a quick ride back to the top of the mountain.
The second place is just after the "gantry" on the final straight. Speed limits are in place here to slow cars down before coming off the track after a completed lap. Nobody seems to pay much attention to these and you do get a lot of twats in high powered cars (that's right, the ones you overtook 3km back) opening their cars right up to hit their top speed along this straightaway. Pointless, and if you were involved in an accident, German law (see above) would be applied. Remember this!
How can I make my car faster on the Ring?
Again, forget about chasing power figures or bolting a turbo on, it won't make you much faster. Practice makes perfect! Main things to improve lap times:
- quality brake pads, discs, lines and fluid.
- good quality tyres, avoid semi slicks until you've got plenty of track experience
- make sure all bushes (inc engine mounts) are in good shape - you'd be surprised how much time is lost through poor, weathered bushes
A standard EK9 with the above is going to be a good fun and educational car. Please, don't spend £2000 on go faster bits before you go. Its pointless.
Are passenger laps allowed?
Yes - I would advise sitting in with experienced drivers for a few laps before going out for your "virgin" lap. I also advise having an experienced driver sit with you for your first few laps.
The white "dots" are the rings best kept secret, these link turn in points to apexi's to exit "aim" points. Ideal for a first timer. Or even someone with extensive Ring experience. The dots are generic and for faster cars or cars with more power or grip they may not be perfect, but they sure help drivers link corners together without straining the car (tyres, brakes, suspension etc).
Do I need to wear a helmet?
Strictly speaking, no. I would advise it for safety reasons though.
I would also advise not wearing thin t-shirts or shorts. In the event of an accident the last thing you want is glass cutting your arms and legs to bits!
Helmets can be bought from Demon Tweaks and other leading internet retails. However, I do recommend getting one from a shop where you can "try before you buy". Open faced helmets are best for visability.
Closed/visor types can be offputting for new track drivers as sound and vision is impaired.
Right.. think that covers a lot of it. I've put together a Ring trip guide before, I'll try and dig that out and post it up in PDF format.
Any questions, feel free to post them here.
What will I need?
EHIC - European Health Insurance Cover
V5
Breakdown Cover
European Cover for your car
Valid Tax
Valid MOT
How do I ge there?
Here are the popular Ferry routes:
Dover - Calais
Dover - Boulogne
Hull - Rotterdam
There is also a Newcastle to Rotterdam service I believe. Ideal for Scottish members.
Anyone wanting to fly in, Cologne (Koln) and Frunkfurt airports are both within easy driving distance.
The Ring is situation in the Effel mountain region of Germany. Around 4.5 hours from Calais/Boulogne and around 2.5 hours from Rotterdam.
Hotels
Motorsport Hotel - 45 Euro per person, per night - double room 65 Euro
Edgar's Place - 27 Euro per person, per night including breakfast and parking
I would never recommend just turning up and trying to find a place, prices will go up with demand! Bank Holiday weekends is always more expensive. Mid-week in August in 2007 I think I paid 40 Euro a night with breakfast at the Motorsport and June this year I paid 27 Euro a night with breakfast at Edgar's place.
Food
Nurburg and Adenau are home to several restaurants. Its cheap as chips too! How does a big Pizza and drinks for under a tenner sound?
I know the good places (and im sure other regular Ring'ers do too) and the bad so don't worry about eating Sausage every night.
Ring etiquette
Remember that its an unristricted German toll road, so German road rules apply. Overtake on the left only and by consent only. Drivers will let you past by indicating over to the right and slowing down. However, you will get the odd ego muppet with a 400bhp barge that will just squirt away down the straights and leave your torqueless little Civic behind - and again, you'll catch him in a corner and again, be annoyed he won't get out of your way! This is not uncommon, back off for 30 seconds and continue you're lap.
If you are first on the scene of any incident/accident you MUST stop and offer assistance. Get the ring HQ hut on your mobile phone.
I recommend getting a Halfords European driving kit and some high-vis vests. You can slow the traffic down by waving the yellow vests at the drivers of oncoming traffic to warn them that there has been an accident ahead.
There are well over 100 corners on the ring and some of them are BLIND! Always be careful when exiting your vehicle and remember, a car at 100mph cannot stop in 10 yards, NEVER wonder onto the track. Good drivers (most of them not British) slow down for accidents, apply hazards etc. Remain off the track and continue to walk away from the accident enough to slow the cars down in time. No need to walk 2km from the accident. Common sense privails.
Anyone overtaking on the wrong side will get banned for the day (if caught) and a right ticking off (anyone who knows the Ring will know how legendary the traffic guys are - makes Anne Widdicombe look like a Telly Tubby) from the Ring staff.
How much is a lap?
Last time I was there (June/July) it was 21 Euro a ticket (divide by 1.22 for GBP price). 4, 8, 16 and 24 lap tickets are available. A yearly pass is also available for a price. The more laps you buy in one hit, the cheaper the ticket. Each lap ticket is valid for that year. I still have a few laps left on my ticket from July
If I crash, what happens?
If you do have an "off" you'll be expected to pay for:
- the barrier (300 Euro a metre IIRC)
- recovery from the track - expensive!
- loss of earnings if the track has to close
- grass seed and cleaning up fees if you drag crap over the track
- cleaning up fees if you dump oil or coolant
The last thing you want lying in a hospital bed is a 10,000 Euro bill for the above. Remember that when driving!
I got passed by a 1989 Golf shitbox, how can this be?
Forget BHP figures, forget flash badges, forget about the 1000 Gran Turismo laps you've done, forget about you're mate Dave in the passenger seat G'ing you on.
All of this is irrelevant. Nothing can replace the combination of driver skill and experience of the Ring. There is always going to be someone miles faster in a lower powered car. They know the track, they know their car - they can carry far more speed than an unexperienced Ring driver.
Go out with an open mind and with nothing to prove and you'll have miles more fun than trying to be the fastest.
Can I record or time my lap?
Recording is strictly forbidden on the Ring without a media pass approved by the Ring HQ. If you get caught filming you'll get banned for the day (in some cases, for 2 or 3 days). The Ring are even looking on Youtube now and some drivers have had bans for previous laps recorded!
Timing can end in tears also, with so much traffic and variables on the ring, drivers cannot help but push on to make up for lost time behind a slow twat or a legal slow down zone for an accident. My advice is to take it steady and forget about times until you can link every corner together in your sleep, backwards
Are there any speed limits on the Ring?
Yes - 2 fixed speed limits. The first is entering Adenau Bridge (official name Breidshied) - a limit is shown there as bikes/cars can join the ring at this point (you loose a full lap from your ticket though!) - great for a quick ride back to the top of the mountain.
The second place is just after the "gantry" on the final straight. Speed limits are in place here to slow cars down before coming off the track after a completed lap. Nobody seems to pay much attention to these and you do get a lot of twats in high powered cars (that's right, the ones you overtook 3km back) opening their cars right up to hit their top speed along this straightaway. Pointless, and if you were involved in an accident, German law (see above) would be applied. Remember this!
How can I make my car faster on the Ring?
Again, forget about chasing power figures or bolting a turbo on, it won't make you much faster. Practice makes perfect! Main things to improve lap times:
- quality brake pads, discs, lines and fluid.
- good quality tyres, avoid semi slicks until you've got plenty of track experience
- make sure all bushes (inc engine mounts) are in good shape - you'd be surprised how much time is lost through poor, weathered bushes
A standard EK9 with the above is going to be a good fun and educational car. Please, don't spend £2000 on go faster bits before you go. Its pointless.
Are passenger laps allowed?
Yes - I would advise sitting in with experienced drivers for a few laps before going out for your "virgin" lap. I also advise having an experienced driver sit with you for your first few laps.
The white "dots" are the rings best kept secret, these link turn in points to apexi's to exit "aim" points. Ideal for a first timer. Or even someone with extensive Ring experience. The dots are generic and for faster cars or cars with more power or grip they may not be perfect, but they sure help drivers link corners together without straining the car (tyres, brakes, suspension etc).
Do I need to wear a helmet?
Strictly speaking, no. I would advise it for safety reasons though.
I would also advise not wearing thin t-shirts or shorts. In the event of an accident the last thing you want is glass cutting your arms and legs to bits!
Helmets can be bought from Demon Tweaks and other leading internet retails. However, I do recommend getting one from a shop where you can "try before you buy". Open faced helmets are best for visability.
Closed/visor types can be offputting for new track drivers as sound and vision is impaired.
Right.. think that covers a lot of it. I've put together a Ring trip guide before, I'll try and dig that out and post it up in PDF format.
Any questions, feel free to post them here.
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2008
- Messages
- 6,259
Great info bazza
Use ADAC for break down recovery it is something like £68 a year covers you all year and is the only one to recover you from the circuit. They are german but are a european cover so you are still covered in the UK where they'll send out the AA.
Bargain.
For recovery off the track is something like £140 so well worth it. Not sure if the 140 is euro's or £ either way bargain.
switch9
Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2007
- Messages
- 127
Great info Bazza !!
Count me in guys!!
1) JIMBOB-EK9
2) type-r-dunc
3) ijwhiteman
4) Tim
5) haitch
6) EK9turbo
7) t_m_evans
8) Ben_anderson⢠+ mate
9) Bazza
10) Jammer
11) Djdosile
12) Piccolo87
13) bigskank
14) Joshm88
15) EK9ant and mate
16) Rob333
17) Dino-Spumoni
18) Saintlysimon
19) Switch9
Count me in guys!!
1) JIMBOB-EK9
2) type-r-dunc
3) ijwhiteman
4) Tim
5) haitch
6) EK9turbo
7) t_m_evans
8) Ben_anderson⢠+ mate
9) Bazza
10) Jammer
11) Djdosile
12) Piccolo87
13) bigskank
14) Joshm88
15) EK9ant and mate
16) Rob333
17) Dino-Spumoni
18) Saintlysimon
19) Switch9
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
- Messages
- 2,665
Cheers for that bazza that is just the kind of write up we needed!
This is going to be a top trip for all!
Cant wait to strat to get this booked!
This is going to be a top trip for all!
Cant wait to strat to get this booked!
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
- Messages
- 2,665
bazza
Free..
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 400
Great info bazza
Use ADAC for break down recovery it is something like £68 a year covers you all year and is the only one to recover you from the circuit. They are german but are a european cover so you are still covered in the UK where they'll send out the AA.
Bargain.
For recovery off the track is something like £140 so well worth it. Not sure if the 140 is euro's or £ either way bargain.
Yep. ADAC is worth the money ten times over if you ask me.
Ian - recovery from the circuit is dependant on where you are on the track, what type of vehicle etc.
A friend of mine would have been charged around 160 Euro for dragging his Evo from the Audi Gantry to the car park. Less than 1.5km!
The ADAC guy's faced dropped when he got his membership card out
Also, the AA are getting wise to cars being dropped 20km from the Ring and claiming to be breakdowns. If the AA can prove you were on the Ring at the time of the failure you can be charged for the AA's time and expenditure getting the car back from Europe and delivered to you. You are talking in excess of £1000.
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Messages
- 10,695
- Car(s)
- EK9/Civic
RVM u have to come along to this with us!
Your our creator! LOL
I'll see what I can do
bazza
Free..
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 400
Ring guide: http://www.vtecdirect.com/old/NSX-R/NSX_Ring.pdf
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2008
- Messages
- 6,259
NielsH
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2007
- Messages
- 49
1) JIMBOB-EK9
2) type-r-dunc
3) ijwhiteman
4) Tim
5) haitch
6) EK9turbo
7) t_m_evans
8) Ben_anderson⢠+ mate
9) Bazza
10) Jammer
11) Djdosile
12) Piccolo87
13) bigskank
14) Joshm88
15) EK9ant and mate
16) Rob333
17) Dino-Spumoni
18) Saintlysimon
19) Switch9
20) NielsH
Been there two times now, done 13 laps and its amazing. And I am really happy that its "only" a 2 and a half hour drive for me to get there. Planning on getting a "Jahreskart" next year. Iam not quick, far from it. But its fantastic to drive there. Even if your slow, I enjoy driving the lines. Watch the dots on the road, in every corner you have an entry dot, apex dot and an exit dot to guide you. The first few laps you'll be to busy with remembering where to go and letting fast drivers past to notice the dots but once you know the track a bit there a great help.
One big point of advice from me, don't panic when some "E30 Beemer" comes up really fast let him go past on an place where your sure you can (straights, non-blind corners) because taking the wrong line through some corners can get you in trouble. Maybe even keep the gap closed because (especialy on busy summer days) some idiots will use the smallest of gaps to get past.
Friend of mine is pretty quick around the ring and he put an onboard on youtube:
YouTube - Nürburgring - Nordschleife 8m59 BtG - Honda Civic Coupe EJ2
Nice video to learn the track a bit before getting there. Maybe I can get him to guide a few of you guys around if you're interested. I really appreciated it because its a lot easier to get around.
Keep the rubber side down, and stay away from the armco
Don't act like an idiot, like a UK visitor last weekend in a Impreza WRX Plus. When he left the gates the Stressi (strecken sicherung / marshals) said to each other "See him in Hatzenbach", got in there Safira drove down the track. And they did see him, in the armco at Hatzenbach.
2) type-r-dunc
3) ijwhiteman
4) Tim
5) haitch
6) EK9turbo
7) t_m_evans
8) Ben_anderson⢠+ mate
9) Bazza
10) Jammer
11) Djdosile
12) Piccolo87
13) bigskank
14) Joshm88
15) EK9ant and mate
16) Rob333
17) Dino-Spumoni
18) Saintlysimon
19) Switch9
20) NielsH
Been there two times now, done 13 laps and its amazing. And I am really happy that its "only" a 2 and a half hour drive for me to get there. Planning on getting a "Jahreskart" next year. Iam not quick, far from it. But its fantastic to drive there. Even if your slow, I enjoy driving the lines. Watch the dots on the road, in every corner you have an entry dot, apex dot and an exit dot to guide you. The first few laps you'll be to busy with remembering where to go and letting fast drivers past to notice the dots but once you know the track a bit there a great help.
One big point of advice from me, don't panic when some "E30 Beemer" comes up really fast let him go past on an place where your sure you can (straights, non-blind corners) because taking the wrong line through some corners can get you in trouble. Maybe even keep the gap closed because (especialy on busy summer days) some idiots will use the smallest of gaps to get past.
Friend of mine is pretty quick around the ring and he put an onboard on youtube:
YouTube - Nürburgring - Nordschleife 8m59 BtG - Honda Civic Coupe EJ2
Nice video to learn the track a bit before getting there. Maybe I can get him to guide a few of you guys around if you're interested. I really appreciated it because its a lot easier to get around.
Keep the rubber side down, and stay away from the armco
Don't act like an idiot, like a UK visitor last weekend in a Impreza WRX Plus. When he left the gates the Stressi (strecken sicherung / marshals) said to each other "See him in Hatzenbach", got in there Safira drove down the track. And they did see him, in the armco at Hatzenbach.
shaunietay
Member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2008
- Messages
- 58
i'm only an ek4 man, but i'd be well interested in going. would be good to know prices and such like but sounds like a whole lot of fun
dave benson
Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 401
i would deffo change front pads + fluid, i was there in august + no brakes after a third of a lap, a that was with the kids + misus in the car !
dont forget norfolkline dover-dunkerque 20 quid each way inc. car + passengers
dont forget norfolkline dover-dunkerque 20 quid each way inc. car + passengers
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2008
- Messages
- 3,579
I have done the ring in my EG5 with 242 Brembo Max (std size, grooved discs), Ferrodo DS2500 and shitty brake fluid in the respectable time of 10:30, in my 3rd lap ever. So I think upgrading brake fluid and pads is enough to keep your brakes from fading unless maybe when you drive laps without any time between them.